MARIA Ressa, Kara David, and Atom Araullo are just some of the famous journalists in our country known for speaking up against injustice and fighting to proclaim the truth, no matter how dangerous doing so may be.
While others may dream of becoming singers or basketball players (and there’s nothing wrong with that, of course), there are others who have aspired to do nothing but write ever since they learned how to.
But journalism may not be what some of you have imagined it to be; there are those who, when thinking about the profession, imagine sipping champagne with celebrities or maybe even doing the smallest amount of work for triple the pay you may think you deserve.
The reality of it, though, is the complete opposite: there is little money to be found in the world of journalism, and even less when you’re doing it for the sole purpose of reporting the truth. That’s why it’s a profession that may not be for everyone.
Twenty-one-year-old Chelsea Visto, a fourth-year student at UP Diliman and a writer for Tinig ng Plaridel (TNP,) sums it up perfectly: “Pursue journalism only if it’s your passion and if you’re fearless enough to stomach the heat. No need to enter such a dangerous job if you’re not willing to commit.”
With that being said, here are some things you should probably prepare if you’re planning to make a name for yourself in the Philippine journalism industry.
- Read, read, read.
Regardless if you’re applying to be a writer, a graphic artist, a photojournalist, or whatever else, it’s important to read as much as you can, whether it be in English or Filipino, news, novels, or whatever else in between.
In fact, 22-year-old Joash Malimban – Multimedia Journalism intern for Fyt Media and photojournalist for UP Diliman’s TNP – advises people to read in the language that they’re not well-versed in so that they may be able to navigate it better in the future.
‘’Kailangan mong i-prepare yung sarili mo for that; kailangan mong maging versatile pagdating sa pagsusulat,” Malimban said.
“Kailangan kahit papaano alamin mo yung technicalities talaga ng mga bawa’t output na sinusulat mo kasi mahalaga yun.”
Visto, for example, is her organization’s Features Editor. During her first year, though, she started as a Features Staffer. In the time she’s spent with TNP, she’s become what many refer to as “chronically online,” spending a significant amount of time through different social media accounts
As a member of a news organization, it’s hard not to be chronically online, considering part of your job is knowing what’s trending at all times.
Visto herself says that she’s always on the lookout for story ideas; for her, anything can be a lead.
- Do your research.
Fake news, misinformation, and disinformation are rampant in the Philippines right now.
It was even discovered in a survey by Pulse Asia that over 86% of the people interviewed felt that fake news was an issue in the country. People are finding it harder and harder to trust news organizations, even when they’re legitimate.
On this topic, Malimban said: “Grave yung consequences of misinformation in the long run, lalo na kung hindi natin siya kokontrahin ngayon. Mas napu-put on the spotlight na mas credible daw itong mga vloggers compared sa mga journalist na talagang may editorial process, may training.”
Nonetheless, he encourages fellow journalists to fight against misinformation and disinformation so they no longer become problems for the country’s people.
It’s also important to research the organization you plan to join, as well as the position you wish to take.
What kind of content does this publication produce? Do they use trusted sources? What’s the reputation of the company? What about its history?
And what does your position entail? Is your workload sufficient given your position, or your pay, if there’s a salary attached? Can you fulfill the responsibilities they’re hoping to give you? Do you have the same values as they do? The list goes on and on.
When it comes to choosing an organization, Visto recommends considering your skill level before doing so.
- Practice really does make perfect.
Malimban admits that photojournalism only ever became a niche of his when he joined TNP, and he was well into the first semester of his third year when he really started practicing photography.
He taught himself and watched a hell of a lot of YouTube videos, which helped him learn the basics of photography.
He advises newcomers to the profession to always know the basics of the field they’d like to focus on, and to improve their skills, no matter how hard it can get.
If you’re joining as a Feature Writer, try reading a bit every day. If you’re looking for a job on the Multimedia Team, learn the basics of shooting and editing videos.
And if the publication you’re joining allows it, try to squeeze some on-the-ground coverage into your schedule.
Malimban himself spends hours upon hours covering events like mobs and important occasions at UP; while it’s good to do your research, nothing beats good old-fashioned onhand experience.
In all the time it takes for one to hone their craft, though, a few hours must be allotted for rest, and rest alone. Visto admits that there are times when she experiences writer’s block, and she’s since learned to work based on her energy level.
She’s a hardworking editor, and part of the reason she’s good at what she does is that she knows when it’s time to take a step back and take some time off. Otherwise, how else are you meant to refresh your mind and regain all the energy you’ve spent perfecting your skills?
- Always uphold journalism ethics.
One thing Malimban emphasized in his interview with republicasia was the importance of ethics in journalism.
Though the definition of this may vary depending on what source you go to, some of the ethics most often discussed are those of truth and accuracy, fairness and impartiality, humanity, accountability, and independence.
These values are some of the most important pieces of information that Malimban has managed to learn about during his time at UP. For him, upholding the ethics of journalism must be done at all times, regardless of if others can see you or not.
Journalists have a sworn duty to the masses, and that duty includes upholding the truth. Doing so includes avoiding petty means of garnering attention for views and clicks, such as sensationalism or romanticization of stories, as well as poverty porn.
He notes that the job of a journalist means always trying to look for the bigger picture instead of simply taking note of what’s right in front of you (and everybody else).
While it’s easy to memorize the values listed, and perhaps it would even be fun to try to think up an acronym for them, he reminds beginners that taking these values to heart is no easy feat.
It’s not just a one-time seminar that you take and, bam, you remember it forever. Learning about these values is considered a lifelong form of education because, in the present, even seasoned journalists forget about the ethics they’re meant to uphold sometimes.
What’s to stop you from doing the same?
- Here’s the truth: objectivity in journalism is basically a myth.
Often, the first thing that many writers learn is this: to be objective. But when you do become a real writer, working in the real world, you quickly come to realize that doing so is nothing short of impossible.
Why? Because, according to Visto, a journalist is meant to serve the interests of the masses. At certain times, this may mean having to forgo the niceties associated with neutrality. Though it’s important to note that impartiality often helps to build the trust of your audience.
But given the state of the world today, people need to hear the truth now more than ever – even if it means that journalists have to force them to listen to it.
Malimban remembers the recent election, where misinformation and disinformation were both rampant. From the start of the campaign period up until the last vote was cast, neither ever ceased.
“Kahit nandun na yung totoo – yung truthful argument – hindi siya tinatanggap ng mga tao,” he said.
“Na-desensitize na sila dahil sa maling impormasyon na na bino-bombard sila, or naco-consume nila, on a daily basis.”
He feels that this ideal of objectivity is one of the biggest misconceptions in the world of journalism. Sometimes you can’t fairly present both sides because one of them is right and the other is wrong. And at the end of the day, being a journalist is about sharing the truth with the masses, even if it may paint the other side in a negative light.
There are no winners or losers there. You are simply giving the people—those that you are meant to be writing for in the first place—what they deserve.
As stated so eloquently by Malimban: “Journalists are there to be the watchdogs of our society, and kailangang matanggap ng mga tao na hindi lang magagandang balita yung dapat nating tanggapin kundi yung realidad ng lipunan natin.”
